England started the day as bookmakers'
favourites but were instead knocked out in the first round of voting -
behind a joint bid from Holland and Belgium that had been seen as the
rank outsider.

With bid chairman Geoff Thompson one
of the executive committee members choosing hosts for 2018 and 2022, England attracted only one other supporter despite intense
lobbying.

Thompson, formerly the FA chairman for eight years, said promises to England had been broken.

'I cannot believe what has happened, and I am naturally very, very disappointed,' he said. 'The votes that were promised clearly didn't materialise. I never imagined we would go out in the first round.'

England had gone into the vote on a
high after a last push by their high-profile delegation, though
there had been fears that British media scrutiny into FIFA officials
could damage their chances.

The number of those voting had been shorn from 24 to 22 after a Sunday Times investigation
accused two FIFA members of offering to sell their votes, while BBC's
Panorama documentary was accused of further antagonising world
football's powerbrokers.

Russian
Prime Minister stayed away from the vote after critising Cameron's
lobbying and the media spotlight on FIFA - and his approach may have
struck a chord with the voters.

Putin
was this evening flying to Zurich to celebrate his country's success
with a bid team that includes Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Arsenal
forward Andrey Arshavin.

Game over: Bid cheerleaders (from left) David Dein, Prince William and David Beckham hear news of defeat

England were not the only disappointed party, with joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium also defeated.

n the first round of voting, Holland/Belgium secured four votes, Spain/Portugal seven and Russia nine. Russia then won an outright majority in the second round of voting. In the 2022 contest, Qatar beat the USA in the final round of voting.

Handed
the World Cup by Blatter, Russian deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov
celebrated, saying: 'You have entrusted us with the FIFA World Cup for
2018 and I can promise, we all can promise, you will never regret it.
Let us make history together.'

His mood was in obvious contrast to the
vast number of famous faces who had pushed England's over the last few
days, months and years.

We did it: A sports bar in Moscow erupts at news of Russia's victory

Contrast: England fans show their disappointment on learning that football isn't coming home

Gary Lineker, whose tally of 48
international goals is the second-highest in England's history, said:
'They've always said they want to push the frontiers - I was surprised
they went with two new ones but there were a lot of good strong bids.

'It was always going to be hugely competitive, I just wish it was us.'

Former England skipper Alan Shearer
added: 'I don't think anyone could have done any more, everyone's worked
very, very hard but at the end of the day it's not been successful. If
you try your best at least you can sleep at night.

'I was hoping I might see a World Cup in my lifetime in England. I wasn't born the last time we had one in '66.

'It's unfortunate, it's sad, it
hurts, but you have to congratulate the winners and Russia have been
winners today - and Qatar - so well done to those guys, I'm sure they've
worked very hard, but it's disappointing from my point of view.

'Everyone was really happy and really
confident with the bid that we put in, we don't feel as though we could
have done any more.'

Responding to speculation England had exited the vote in the first round, Lord Coe added: 'I'm not so surprised by anything in sport.

'Those
are the vagaries, until we get a better understanding where the votes
fell and those things we must wait. Plates can smash in odd places and
in odd ways in the opening rounds.

'I'm a football fan, I was basically looking forward to taking my kids to the World Cup.'

In a very 21st-century response, Russian president Dmitri Medvedev used Twitter to tell the world: 'Hurrah! Victory! We're hosting the 2018 championship!

New frontier: The World Cup trophy is handed to Qatar's Sheika Mozah bint Nasser al-Misned as the emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (left) applauds, following Blatter's announcement that the Asian state would host the 2022 finals

Before leaving for a flight to Zurich, Putin said: 'This decision shows that Russia is trusted.

The day had started with Prince William spearheading England's
final attempts to land the World Cup.

The future King of England delivered a strong
speech as the bid team produced an impressive final presentation on the
morning of today's key vote.

Manchester
City social inclusion manager Eddie Afekafe kicked off the presentation
at 10am by explaining how the game had changed his life after tough
beginnings.

He then handed over to the Prince, who outlined his passion for the game and the benefits it would bring to the country.

Prime
Minister David Cameron was up next with a rousing speech about how the
World Cup would prompt England to deliver huge changes for fans around
the world.

Bid chief executive Andy Anson
followed Cameron to assure voters that England will be ready to host the
perfect finals.

Final push: Prince William arrives with David Beckham for the final presentations in Zurich

David Beckham was the final member of
the five-man bid presentation team to take to the stage in Zurich. He
said England wanted to 'stage a World Cup that would make you truly
proud'.

William told FIFA members: 'I love
football, we English love football and it would be an honour for us to
host the World Cup.'

The prince, who was applauded by the
22-man executive committee before the presentation also stressed that
England were committed to developing football internationally.

The
presentation opened with Afekafe, a bid ambassador who works with
Manchester City on their community programmes, explaining how football
had changed his life.

William
built on that, saying: 'What Eddie represents is a credit to FIFA
because it's your game that transformed his life. England 2018 and FIFA
together have the opportunity to create thousands of more opportunities
for people like Eddie.

VIDEO: Prince William reacts to 2018 defeat...

'I
also give you an assurance that England is committed to developing
football internationally as a member of your football family.'

William also referred to his
forthcoming marriage to Kate Middleton, saying: 'We can deliver
extraordinary public occasions - I certainly hope as I'm planning quite a
big one myself next year. It will be truly a FIFA World Cup for the
world.'

In his speech,
Cameron promised England would lay on 'the most spectacular World Cup in
history'.

He said fans
from all over the world would feel at home in England's diverse cities.
He pointed out that many of the world's biggest stars play in the
English Premier League, which is watched all over the world.

Cameron said: 'We want to convince
you of one thing only today, that we have the passion and the expertise
to put on what we believe would be the most spectacular World Cup in
history. There is the most incredible support for the World Cup back in
England.

Big day: David Cameron sweeps into FIFA HQ ahead of the crunch presentation

'The future King
of England is right behind it, every club from the highest Premier
League club to the lowest village team is backing this bid.'

Cameron said England's bid would deliver for players, fans and FIFA.

He
added: 'The players know they would be training in some of the best
facilities available anywhere in the world and playing in stadiums that
are some of the best world, always packed to the rafters.

'The
fans would be safe as we have some the finest police in the world, we
have great transport links between our cities, and most of all they will
feel at home in England. Any nationality, any religion, any background
and I can bet you we have these communities in England.

'Just imagine what a World Cup in England could be like - every day would be a beautiful day.'

In a presentation described by FIFA
president Sepp Blatter as 'excellent and remarkable', Beckham drew on
memories of his grandad Joe who died a year ago today, just before he
took part in the South African World Cup draw in Cape Town.

All smiles: Eddie Afekafe (left) and Andy Anson arrive for England's last-ditch bid for more votes

Beckham said: 'My life in football began with my grandad Joe. I've played on every continent and I'm proud to have been part of the success that English football has enjoyed over the past 20 years.

'I could never have imagined that
FIFA would have invited me to take part in the World Cup draw. A year
ago today my grandad died, the day before the draw. Now I want to do
something that will make my grandad proud.

'Now
I want to do more. That's why I am here and why everyone from the Prime
Minister to Prince William to Eddie is here today. The benefits will be
felt over generations and your vote can make this happen.

'To create a better future for our grandchildren and many millions more, just imagine what we can achieve together.

Star appeal: David Beckham (above) and David Cameron (below) on stage during the presentation

'Our dream is to stage a World Cup that benefits billions, that makes you, your grandchildren and everyone in football truly proud.'

Afekafe had opened the presentation in a powerful performance by telling the FIFA members how football had 'changed my life'.

He said: 'I grew up in one of the roughest parts of Manchester, most of the guys I grew up with were in gangs - some still are, some are in prison. What they didn't get but I got was an opportunity - and that was through football.'

Blatter had given England's bid delegation a warm welcome, saying: 'It's a privilege of FIFA to have Prince William of Wales here, but he's also the president of the FA and therefore a colleague of the 207 presidents of the other associations of FIFA.'

The 2022 hosts Qatar beat bids from Australia, the United States and 2004 World Cup co-hosts Japan and South Korea.

The Asian country's staging of the tournament had come in for some criticism because of the weather in the country during June and July - when temperatures can rise as high as 50 degrees Celsius - while the close proximity of the stadiums had also raised some questions.

Royal approval: Prince William delivers his plea to FIFA members after being introduced by Eddie Afekafe